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Constitution

The National Assembly of the Republic of China, by virtue of the mandate received from the whole body of citizens, in accordance with the teachings bequeathed by Dr. Sun Yat-sen in founding the Republic of China, and in order to consolidate the authority of the State, safeguard the rights of the people, ensure social tranquility, and promote the welfare of the people, does hereby establish this Constitution, to be promulgated throughout the country for faithful and perpetual observance by all.

The Republic of China, founded on the Three Principles of the People, shall be a democratic republic of the people, to be governed by the people and for the people.

Article 2.

The sovereignty of the Republic of China shall reside in the whole body of citizens.

Article 3.

Persons possessing the nationality of the Republic of China shall be citizens of the Republic of China.

Article 4.

The territory of the Republic of China according to its existing national boundaries shall not be altered except by resolution of the National Assembly.

Article 5.

There shall be equality among the various racial groups in the Republic of China.

Article 6.

The national flag of the Republic of China shall be of red ground with a blue sky and a white sun in the upper left corner.

Chapter II. Rights and Duties of the People

Article 7.

All citizens of the Republic of China, irrespective of sex, religion, race, class, or party affiliation, shall be equal before the law.

Article 8.

Personal freedom shall be guaranteed to the people. Except in case of flagrante delicto as provided by law, no person shall be arrested or detained otherwise than by a judicial or a police organ in accordance with the procedure prescribed by law. No person shall be tried or punished otherwise than by a law court in accordance with the procedure prescribed by law. Any arrest, detention, trial, or punishment which is not in accordance with the procedure prescribed by law may be resisted.
When a person is arrested or detained on suspicion of having committed a crime, the organ making the arrest or detention shall in writing inform the said person, and his designated relative or friend, of the grounds for his arrest or detention, and shall, within 24 hours, turn him over to a competent court for trial. The said person, or any other person, may petition the competent court that a writ be served within 24 hours on the organ making the arrest for the surrender of the said person for trial.
The court shall not reject the petition mentioned in the preceding paragraph, nor shall it order the organ concerned to make an investigation and report first. The organ concerned shall not refuse to execute, or delay in executing, the writ of the court for the surrender of the said person for trial.
When a person is unlawfully arrested or detained by any organ, he or any other person may petition the court for an investigation. The court shall not reject such a petition, and shall, within 24 hours, investigate the action of the organ concerned and deal with the matter in accordance with law.

Article 9.

Except those in active military service, no person shall be subject to trial by a military tribunal.

Article 10.

The people shall have freedom of residence and of change of residence.

Article 11.

The people shall have freedom of speech, teaching, writing and publication.

Article 12.

The people shall have freedom of privacy of correspondence.

Article 13.

The people shall have freedom of religious belief.

Article 14.

The people shall have freedom of assembly and association.

Article 15.

The right of existence, the right of work, and the right of property shall be guaranteed to the people.

Article 16.

The people shall have the right of presenting petitions, lodging complaints, or instituting legal proceedings.

Article 17.

The people shall have the right of election, recall, initiative and referendum.

Article 18.

The people shall have the right of taking public examinations and of holding public offices.

Article 19.

The people shall have the duty of paying taxes in accordance with law.

Article 20.

The people shall have the duty of performing military service in accordance with law.

Article 21.

The people shall have the right and the duty of receiving citizens’ education.

Article 22.

All other freedoms and rights of the people that are not detrimental to social order or public welfare shall be guaranteed under the Constitution.

Article 23.

All the freedoms and rights enumerated in the preceding Articles shall not be restricted by law except by such as may be necessary to prevent infringement upon the freedoms of other persons, to avert an imminent crisis, to maintain social order or to advance public welfare.

Article 24.

Any public functionary who, in violation of law, infringes upon the freedom or right of any person shall, in addition to being subject to disciplinary measures in accordance with law, be held responsible under criminal and civil laws. The injured person may, in accordance with law, claim compensation from the State for damage sustained.

The National Assembly of the Republic of China, by virtue of the mandate received from the whole body of citizens, in accordance with the teachings bequeathed by Dr. Sun Yat-sen in founding the Republic of China, and in order to consolidate the authority of the State, safeguard the rights of the people, ensure social tranquility, and promote the welfare of the people, does hereby establish this Constitution, to be promulgated throughout the country for faithful and perpetual observance by all.

The Republic of China, founded on the Three Principles of the People, shall be a democratic republic of the people, to be governed by the people and for the people.

Article 2.

The sovereignty of the Republic of China shall reside in the whole body of citizens.

Article 3.

Persons possessing the nationality of the Republic of China shall be citizens of the Republic of China.

Article 4.

The territory of the Republic of China according to its existing national boundaries shall not be altered except by resolution of the National Assembly.

Article 5.

There shall be equality among the various racial groups in the Republic of China.

Article 6.

The national flag of the Republic of China shall be of red ground with a blue sky and a white sun in the upper left corner.

Chapter II. Rights and Duties of the People

Article 7.

All citizens of the Republic of China, irrespective of sex, religion, race, class, or party affiliation, shall be equal before the law.

Article 8.

Personal freedom shall be guaranteed to the people. Except in case of flagrante delicto as provided by law, no person shall be arrested or detained otherwise than by a judicial or a police organ in accordance with the procedure prescribed by law. No person shall be tried or punished otherwise than by a law court in accordance with the procedure prescribed by law. Any arrest, detention, trial, or punishment which is not in accordance with the procedure prescribed by law may be resisted.
When a person is arrested or detained on suspicion of having committed a crime, the organ making the arrest or detention shall in writing inform the said person, and his designated relative or friend, of the grounds for his arrest or detention, and shall, within 24 hours, turn him over to a competent court for trial. The said person, or any other person, may petition the competent court that a writ be served within 24 hours on the organ making the arrest for the surrender of the said person for trial.
The court shall not reject the petition mentioned in the preceding paragraph, nor shall it order the organ concerned to make an investigation and report first. The organ concerned shall not refuse to execute, or delay in executing, the writ of the court for the surrender of the said person for trial.
When a person is unlawfully arrested or detained by any organ, he or any other person may petition the court for an investigation. The court shall not reject such a petition, and shall, within 24 hours, investigate the action of the organ concerned and deal with the matter in accordance with law.

Article 9.

Except those in active military service, no person shall be subject to trial by a military tribunal.

Article 10.

The people shall have freedom of residence and of change of residence.

Article 11.

The people shall have freedom of speech, teaching, writing and publication.

Article 12.

The people shall have freedom of privacy of correspondence.

Article 13.

The people shall have freedom of religious belief.

Article 14.

The people shall have freedom of assembly and association.

Article 15.

The right of existence, the right of work, and the right of property shall be guaranteed to the people.

Article 16.

The people shall have the right of presenting petitions, lodging complaints, or instituting legal proceedings.

Article 17.

The people shall have the right of election, recall, initiative and referendum.

Article 18.

The people shall have the right of taking public examinations and of holding public offices.

Article 19.

The people shall have the duty of paying taxes in accordance with law.

Article 20.

The people shall have the duty of performing military service in accordance with law.

Article 21.

The people shall have the right and the duty of receiving citizens’ education.

Article 22.

All other freedoms and rights of the people that are not detrimental to social order or public welfare shall be guaranteed under the Constitution.

Article 23.

All the freedoms and rights enumerated in the preceding Articles shall not be restricted by law except by such as may be necessary to prevent infringement upon the freedoms of other persons, to avert an imminent crisis, to maintain social order or to advance public welfare.

Article 24.

Any public functionary who, in violation of law, infringes upon the freedom or right of any person shall, in addition to being subject to disciplinary measures in accordance with law, be held responsible under criminal and civil laws. The injured person may, in accordance with law, claim compensation from the State for damage sustained.